Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday expelled party leader Rahul Gharat soon after he was arrested for assaulting a doctor at Relief Hospital in Palghar in the wee hours on Sunday. The incident was captured on CCTV camera at the hospital.
Calling the attack on doctors and hospital staff "extremely unfortunate", Shinde said Shiv Sena will not condone such incidents. "If any wrongdoing had occurred regarding a patient, the proper course of action was to file a legal complaint. Taking the law into one's hands is not justified, and Shiv Sena will not support such actions," said Shinde.
While announcing the suspension and ouster of Gharat from the party, Shinde warned Shiv Sena workers that assault on doctors would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
An FIR was registered against 17 people, including Shiv Sena district president Kundan Sankhe, BJP MLA Rajendra Gavit's son Rohit Gavit and corporator Neelam Sankhe.
The alleged attack occurred after five Govindas who sustained injuries were brought in for treatment, following which a dispute broke out over charges in bills. For the unversed, Govindas are devotees who form human pyramids as part of Dahi Handi celebrations on Janmashtami and break a suspended earthen pot.
The injured Govindas alleged that the hospital forced them to take CT scans and charge excessive amounts. Amid dispute over their bills and discharge, Shiv Sena leaders came to the hospital late at night. During the confrontation Gharat assaulted the doctor and threated a woman staffer.
